Customizable and expandable play structures

ABSTRACT

A customizable play structure that includes a fabric, a flexible material or a combination thereof having illustrations of objects found in an environment that are created on a top surface of the play structure. Illustrations that are included on the top surface of the material include objects that are found in a known environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to children's play structures and, more particularly, to customizable and expandable play structures that include illustrations of familiar areas, words and/or familiar objects.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Children typically enjoy playing with objects and creating imaginary worlds. Play rugs that include roads and buildings are an example of an object that children like to play with. Play rugs allow children to pretend they are going place to place on the rug, typically through the use of a toy object, such as a toy vehicle. However, known play rugs depict only a generic, cartoon-like setting and thus do not allow children to pretend that they are playing in an area that is familiar. Thus, there is a need in the art for customizable play structures that are based on areas that are familiar to the children playing with them. There is also a need in the art for play structures that depict familiar areas rather than generic, cartoon-like images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a customizable play structure is disclosed that includes a fabric, a flexible material or a combination thereof having illustrations of objects found in an environment that are created on a top surface of the play structure. Illustrations that are included on the top surface of the material include objects that are found in a known environment.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary play structure;

FIG. 2 a is a top view of four play structures that are connected to each other;

FIG. 2 b is a side view of an exemplary connector accessory;

FIG. 2 c is a side view of an exemplary anti-slip accessory;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of creating a play structure;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of another exemplary method of creating a play structure;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary design program used to create a play structure;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another exemplary play structure;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of another exemplary method of creating a play structure; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating border portions of two play structures that are adjacent to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to customizable and expandable play structures is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary play structure 10 that is rectangular with a top surface, a bottom surface and four edge portions. While a rectangular play structure 10 is shown, any shape may be used for the play structure 10. The play structure 10 includes illustrations of roadways 12 that are arranged in any manner desired. The roadways 12 as shown depict a grid-type pattern, however, any pattern of the roadways 12, railroads and/or paths may be used. A town square 14 is shown near the center of the play structure 10, however, the town square 14 need not be included or the town square 14 may be located in any region of the play structure 10 and may be any size or dimensions desired.

The play structure 10 may include various illustrations that represent typical buildings or areas found in a city, town, region, etc. The exemplary play structure 10 includes a grocery store 20, a hardware store 22, a gas station 24, and a car wash 26. Restaurants 28 and parking areas 30 are also included on the play structure 10. Any number of restaurants 28 and parking areas 30 may be included on the play structure 10.

The play structure 10 may also include various illustrations that represent common municipal and/or public service buildings, such as a police station 32, a fire station 34, a hospital 36, a library 38, a school 40 and/or a post office 42. The play structure 10 may also include illustrations that represent a bank 44, a movie theater 46, a barber shop 48, a water tower 50 and/or pedestrian crossings 52.

The play structure 10 may also include other illustrations such as houses 60, one or more play grounds 62, traffic signals/street signs 64 landscapes 66, a river 72 and/or a bridge 74. All of the illustrations discussed above are exemplary, as various other illustrations may be included in any combination and/or orientation desired, as discussed in more detail below.

The play structure 10 may include one or more extending roads or paths 70 that extend out to an edge of the play structure 10 such that the play structure 10 may be aligned with one or more roads or paths from other play structure(s) that are placed adjacent to each other. Once the extending roads or paths 70 from adjacent play structures are aligned, the play structures can be physically connected or not connected (but still adjacent), thereby creating a larger play area.

FIG. 2 a is a top view of four play structures 10 that are aligned and connected to each other to create a larger play area as discussed above. The play structures 10 may be removably connected using a connector accessory 80, discussed below. FIG. 2 b is a side view of an exemplary connector accessory 80 that includes a top portion 82 and a bottom portion 84. The top portion 82 and the bottom portion 84 of the connector accessory 80 are magnetic so that when portions of two or more play structures 10 are placed between the top portion 82 and the bottom portion 84, the two or more play structures 10 are held in place between the top portion 82 and the bottom portion 84 of the connector accessory 80.

The connector accessory 80 may include one or more printable surfaces or an illustration that is attached to the connectory accessory 80 using any suitable method so that illustrations on the connector accessory 80 are exposed when the play structures 10 are connected to each other, thereby adding to the illustrations that are part of the play structures 10 in addition to providing a way to connect the play structures 10 to one another. For example, the connector accessory 80 may include an image of a bridge, railroad, roadway or path on a top surface 86 of the top portion 82. The connector accessory 80 may attach any edge portion of a play structure 10 to another play structure 10. The connector accessory 80 may have a thin/low profile to allow for a toy, such as a toy vehicle to drive over the connector accessory 80 when the toy vehicle is traveling from one play structure 10 to another play structure 10 such that the edges of the play structure(s) 10 are prevented from wrinkling when the toy vehicle drives across using the connector accessory 80. Alternatively, the connector accessory 80 may include a three-dimensional structure made of any suitable material, such as plastic, that is on the top surface 86 of the top portion 82 and that is a desired shape, such as the shape of a bridge.

The play structure 10 may also include one or more anti-slip accessories 90 that are removably connected to the play structure 10. FIG. 2 c is a side view of an exemplary anti-slip accessory 90. Similar to the connector accessory 80, the anti-slip accessory 90 may be magnetic and may include a top portion 92 and a bottom portion 94. A top surface of the top portion 92 may include an illustration such as a tree or a building, and a bottom surface 96 of the bottom portion 94 includes an anti-slip coating to reduce movement of the play structure 10 when laid out on a surface such as a floor. The anti-slip coating may be any known anti-slip coating, for example, a rubber or plastic coating. The connector accessory 80 and the anti-slip accessory 90 may be combined into a single accessory (not shown) if desired. The top surface of the top portion 92 may have an illustration created thereon in any suitable manner, or an illustration may be attached to the top surface of the top portion using any suitable method.

The material that the play structure 10 is made from may be any type of suitable fabric or flexible material, or a combination thereof, such as upholstery fabric, polyester, foam and/or vinyl. The attached images, discussed in more detail below, may be any sheet material that is suitable, such as fabric, cardboard, plastic, vinyl and/or flexible material. For example, a patch, an iron-on material such as a clear sticker material, or a photo attached to a backing such as cardboard or window/wall sticker material may be used for the attached images. The play structure 10 may be machine or spot washable, and may be designed to be rolled up or folded up for ease of carrying and/or storing. The play structure 10 may also include a carrying case.

The specific illustrations and layout of the play structure 10 may be created in various ways. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 100 illustrating a way that the illustrations and layout of the play structure 10 may be created. According to the flow diagram 100, the illustrations of the play structure 10 are provided by the manufacturer, inventor, or entity involved in the production process of the play structure 10, collectively referred to as “manufacturer” hereafter. Once the play structure 10 is designed and sold, a user of the play structure 10 may add more illustrations to customize the play structure 10, as is discussed in more detail below.

At box 102 of flow diagram 100, the illustrations are created. The illustrations may be computer generated, hand drawn, or photographic images. Using a computing device or processor, the illustrations are converted into electronic files such as JPEG, TIF, DOC, GIF, PDF, etc. The subject matter of a the illustrations may include, for example, objects found around an environment including, but not limited to, images of roads, pathways, schools, stores, homes, public buildings, natural landscapes, lakes, rivers, pools, playgrounds, animals, street signs, road signs and/or parks. In this way, illustrations of familiar objects and familiar locations can be used to create the play structure 10. For example, the illustrations used may be photographs of objects in a particular location or area. The illustrations used may also include a user's name or words or symbols that are familiar to a user. The illustrations that are generated at the box 102 are transferred to a computer at box 104 where the illustrations are converted into electronic files as discussed above. At box 106, a design program of the computer enables the manufacturer to design a play structure layout at a box 108. The layout of the play structure 10 is created by the manufacturer using the design program of the computer, discussed in more detail below. The layout may simulate a setting or environment such as, for example, an actual village, town, city, farm, park, state, country, beach, lake, ocean, etc. The layout of the play structure 10 need not simulate the entire location, as the layout of the play structure 10 may focus on one or more regions of a location.

Once the design of the play structure 10 has been established at the box 108, the play structure 10 is created using the design from the box 108 by transferring the images and the layout to material that is used to create the play structure 10 at box 110. Transfer of the illustrations and layout may be performed using various methods including, but not limited to, directing printing methods (e.g., dispersed dyes, inkjet, dye sublimation), heat-press or iron-on techniques, adhesive, Velcro™, magnetic fields, hand drawing, screen printing, solvent printing and/or any other suitable method. Once the transfer of the illustrations and layout to the material is complete the play structure 10 is ready for use.

In an alternate embodiment, the illustrations from the box 102 may be provided to the manufacturer by the user. Further, the layout of the play structure 10 at the box 108 may be provided to the user for edits or comments prior to finalization of the layout of the play structure 10 and transfer of the images and layout to the material at the box 110.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturer may also create attachable illustrations that are available for purchase and that may be added to the play structure 10 after the play structure 10 has been created at the box 110. The attachable illustrations may be any of the illustrations discussed above, e.g., objects found around an environment including, but not limited to, images of roads, pathways, schools, stores, homes, public buildings, natural landscapes, lakes, rivers, pools, playgrounds, animals, street signs, road signs and/or parks. The attachable illustrations may be created on any suitable medium, such as the medium discussed above, that may be attached to an existing play structure 10, the connector accessory 80 or the anti-slip accessory 90. The attachable images may be attached by various methods including, but not limited to, ironing, heat press, Velcro™, adhesive, sewing, snaps, buttons, magnets, etc. Thus, the attachable images allow for customization of the play structure 10 after the play structure 10 has been created at the box 110.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 120 that illustrates another method of creating the specific illustrations and layout of the play structure 10. Illustrations may be provided by a user at box 122 or by the manufacturer at box 124. The user may provide the illustrations to the manufacturer via, for example, the Internet, postal service, fax, etc., or the user may provide the illustrations to the manufacturer using a website of the manufacturer. The user may also deliver the images to a point of sale location such as a retail store that is associated with the manufacturer. In this way, the user may participate in the creation of the play structure 10 and the user can ensure that the exact illustrations that are desired are included in the play structure 10.

The illustrations provided by the user at the box 122 and/or the illustrations provided by the manufacturer at the box 124 are collectively the illustrations that are available at a box 126. Using the illustrations that are available at the box 126, a computer is used at a box 128 with a design program of the computer, discussed in detail below, at box 130 to create the play structure 10 with the desired illustrations and layout at a box 132. Using this approach, a user has the option to choose various play structure design layouts that are offered by the manufacturer, and the user can then add the illustrations that the user chooses from the available illustrations at the box 126. The layout of the resulting play structure 10 may also be chosen by the user, or the layout may be an arbitrary layout that is chosen by the manufacturer using the illustrations that are chosen by the user.

Using the Internet and/or a computer at a point of sale location at the box 128, the user may use the design program at the box 130 to place the selected illustrations in desired locations on the design layout, i.e., the user can design the layout of the play structure 10, shown at box 136. Alternatively, the user may simply supply the illustrations at the box 122 and the play structure design layout may be created by the manufacturer at box 134. Once the play structure design layout is established at the box 132, either by the manufacturer or the user, the layout is transferred to a medium at box 138, as discussed above with respect to box 110 of FIG. 3. After the layout of the play structure 10 is transferred to a suitable medium, the play structure 10 is created and ready for use at a box 110. As discussed above, attachable images may be attached to the play structure 10 after the play structure 10 is created and ready for use at the box 138. The design program at the box 130 may be used to print attachable images to a medium at box 140. The attachable illustrations may be created on any suitable medium as discussed above. The user may attach the attachable image to the play structure 10 in a desired location at box 142. The attachable images may be attached by the various methods discussed above.

The design program discussed above is any computer program that may create a design layout for the play structure 10. Examples of computer programs that may be used to create a design layout for the play structure 10 include, for example, Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Visio. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary design program 150. At box 152, the design program creates lines, shapes and colors in various styles and sizes and is capable of adjusting any of the created lines shapes and/or colors. The lines, shapes and colors are used to create a basic layout for a play structure 10 that may represent the basic layout of an existing town, city, etc., as discussed above. The basic layout may include, for example, roads, trees, playgrounds, street signs, etc. Once the basic layout is created at the box 152, the design program 150 utilizes electronic files that include illustrations at box 154. As discussed above, the illustrations may include photographic images, computer generated graphics and/or hand drawn images.

Once the illustrations have been included by the design program at the box 154, the manufacturer or user may use the design program to move the illustrations to a desired location on the basic layout created at box 156. As discussed above, the manufacturer may move the illustrations to the desired location on the basic layout, as shown in FIG. 3, or the user may move the illustrations to the desired location on the basic layout, as shown in FIG. 4.

The illustrations and/or the basic layout may be adjusted at a box 158 by editing the size, color, shape, etc. of the illustrations and/or basic layout. The layout for the play structure 10 is stored in a memory of a computer that is associated with the design program at box 160. The memory can be any suitable computer-related memory. The basic layout may be stored in the memory, the illustrations may be stored in the memory, and/or the basic layout with the illustrations as created may be stored in the memory at the box 160. The play structure 10 is ready for manufacture at box 162, and may be manufactured by known methods, including the methods discussed above.

If additional illustrations are desired by the user after the play structure 10 is created, the user can order an attachable image, discussed above, using an illustration from the user at the box 122 or an illustration from the manufacturer at the box 124 of FIG. 4. In this situation, the design program at the box 130 of FIG. 4 may be used to create the desired additional illustrations that are printed on a suitable medium at a box 140 as discussed above. The suitable medium may be any medium capable of having an illustration created thereon, such as paper, fabric, cardboard, flexible material, plastic, etc. The additional illustrations, also known as attachable images may be permanently or removably attached to an existing play structure by various methods including, but not limited to, ironing, heat press, Velcro™, adhesive, sewing, snaps, buttons, magnets, etc.

In providing illustrations at the box 122, the user may include images of objects found around an environment of their choice such as a child's school or home, or the place of employment of a parent, etc. The illustrations may further include a name or initials or other words or symbols to add additional customization to the play structure 10. As discussed above, the play structure 10 may also include extending roads or paths 70 that extend out at the edge of the play structure 10 such that the play structure 10 may be physically connected or placed adjacent to other play structures using the connector accessory 80 described above.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another exemplary play structure 180 with like elements designated by the same reference numerals as the play structure 10 of FIG. 1. The play structure 180 is made into a puzzle that includes puzzle pieces 182 that are made of any suitable material for a puzzle, such as, for example, cardboard or foam. The play structure 180 that is made of the puzzle pieces 182 is designed to challenge a user's conceptual skills. The play structure 180 may be entirely a puzzle or may include portions that are constructed from puzzle pieces. Once constructed, the play structure 180 creates a layout of an environment where toys such as toy vehicles may be used on the play structure 180. The play structure 180 may include extending roads 70 similar to the extending roads 70 of the play structure 70, thereby allowing the play structure 180 to be placed adjacent to other play structures 180 and/or other play structures 10 or physically connected to other play structures 10 using the connector accessory 80, discussed above, to create a larger play area, as discussed above. The play structure 180 may include customized puzzle pieces 184, discussed in more detail below.

The design program 150 discussed above may be used to create the play structure 180. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram 190 of an exemplary algorithm of the design program 150 that may be used to create the play structure 180. At box 192, the design layout for the play structure 180 is created in a manner that is similar to the flow diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 4, discussed above. Once the design layout is established at the box 192, a puzzle grid is created for the design layout of the play structure 180 at box 194. After the design layout and puzzle grid are established at the box 194, the play structure 180 is transferred to a suitable material, such as foam or cardboard, at box 196. Transfer of the design layout may include any suitable method, such as direct printing methods, heat-press, iron, on, adhesive, etc., as discussed above. After the design layout is transferred to a suitable material at box 196, the puzzle grid is cut such that the suitable material with the design layout thereon is cut into several puzzle pieces 182 at box 198. Alternatively, if the design layout for the play structure 180 was transferred to a sheet material at box 202, the sheet material with the design layout is attached to a suitable material for the play structure 180, such as cardboard or foam at box 206. The suitable material with the attached sheet material that includes the design layout is cut into the puzzle grid to create the puzzle pieces 182 at box 208. After the puzzle pieces are cut at the box 208 the play structure 180 is complete and may be put together and taken apart as desired. Some of the puzzle pieces 182 may be the same shape as other puzzle pieces 182 such that the puzzle pieces 182 may be located in various places on the play structure 180. This allows a user to interchange the location of some of the puzzle pieces 182. Thus, illustrations that are included on the puzzle pieces 182 may be placed in different locations on the play structure 180 as desired. A portion of the puzzle pieces 182 will be unique to allow a user to determine how to construct the play structure 180. The level of complexity of the puzzle may be varied to suit users of different ages and/or skill levels.

The design program 150 may also be used to create customized puzzle pieces 184 for the play structure 180 at box 200. For example, a user may wish to incorporate a specific illustration for a customized puzzle piece 184 such that one of the puzzle pieces 182 may be replaced with a customized puzzle piece 184 to provide a customized play structure 180.

Flow diagram 190 of FIG. 7 includes steps to create customized puzzle pieces that may be created with a desired illustration. At the box 200 the desired illustration is chosen, which may be an illustration from a user or the manufacturer, as discussed above. Once the desired illustration is established at the box 200, the desired illustration is transferred to a suitable medium at the box 196. The suitable medium may be a sheet material such as plastic or paper at the box 202, where the sheet material with the desired illustration may then be attached to the top surface of an existing puzzle piece 182 at the box 206, or the sheet material with the desired illustration may be attached to a blank puzzle piece that is the same shape and is made from the same material as one or more of the puzzle pieces 182 that are part of an existing play structure 180 at box 204.

Alternatively, the customized puzzle piece 184 may be created by attaching the sheet material with the desired illustration to medium that is the same as the medium used to create the play structure 180 at box 206, and the medium with the desired illustration may then be cut into a desired puzzle piece shape at 208. Another possible method to create the customized puzzle piece 184 is to simply transfer the desired illustration directly onto a medium that is the same as an existing play structure 180, such as cardboard or foam, at box 196 using one or more of the transfer methods discussed above, and then cutting the medium into the desired puzzle piece shape at the box 208.

Using the puzzle pieces 182 and the customized puzzle pieces 184, the play structure 180 may be customized numerous times by replacing puzzle pieces 182 with customized puzzle pieces 184, or by replacing customized puzzle pieces 184 with different customized puzzle pieces 184. Thus, puzzle pieces 182 and/or customized puzzle pieces 184 may be added after the play structure 180 has been created and been in use to allow for the addition of locations that are familiar to a user. For example, favorite restaurants, mom or dad's place of work, school, etc., may be included on customized puzzle pieces 184 and incorporated into the play structure 180.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating border portions of two play structures 180 that are adjacent to each other. The play structures 180 include border puzzle pieces 186. A border puzzle piece 186 from each of the play structures 180 may be replaced with a single connector puzzle piece 188 to connect the play structures 180 together. The connector puzzle piece 188 may be customized in a manner that is similar to the customizable puzzle pieces 184, discussed above.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for creating a play structure with illustrations comprising: providing a basic layout that includes roads and/or paths; providing illustrations of objects found in a known environment; using a computer to generate a design layout for the play structure using the basic layout and the illustrations; and creating the play structure with the generated design layout by transferring the generated design layout to a medium that is used for the play structure.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illustrations of the objects found in the known environment include images of roads, pathways, schools, stores, homes, public buildings, natural landscapes, lakes, rivers, pools, playgrounds, animals, street signs, road signs or parks, or any combination thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illustrations of objects found in the known environment are photographs of objects in a particular location or area.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein using a computer includes using a design program that is capable of creating a basic layout, adding illustrations, editing the basic layout, editing the illustrations, or a combination thereof, and saving the basic layout, the illustrations or a combination thereof to a memory of the computer.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the medium used for the play structure is a fabric, a flexible material, or a combination thereof.
 6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing one or more roads or paths that extend to an edge of the play structure such that the play structure may be aligned with one or more roads or paths of at least one other play structure.
 7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a connector accessory that enables the play structure to be removably connected to another play structure.
 8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing an anti-slip accessory that is removably attached to the play structure and that reduces movement of the play structure when the play structure is laid out on a surface.
 9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing attachable illustrations that are on a material that may be attached to the play structure after the play structure has been created.
 10. A method for creating a play structure comprising: providing a computer-related design program that allows a user to create a basic layout for the play structure that includes roads, paths or a combination thereof and that allows a user to add desired illustrations to the basic layout; editing the basic layout, the illustrations, or a combination thereof using the design program to generate a design layout; and creating the play structure with the generated design layout by transferring the generated design layout to a medium that is used for the play structure.
 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the user is a manufacturer of the play structure, a user of the play structure, or a combination thereof.
 12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the desired illustrations are illustrations of objects found in a particular location or area.
 13. The method according to claim 10 wherein providing a computer-related design program includes using a design program that is capable of creating a basic layout, adding illustrations, editing the basic layout, editing the illustrations, or a combination thereof, and saving the basic layout, the illustrations, or a combination thereof.
 14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the medium used for creating the play structure is a fabric, a flexible material, or a combination thereof.
 15. The method according to claim 10 further comprising providing one or more extending roads or paths that extend to an edge of the play structure, and a connector accessory that enables the play structure to be removably connected to another play structure, thereby creating a larger play area.
 16. A customizable play structure comprising: a fabric, a flexible material or a combination thereof that includes illustrations of objects found in an environment that are created on a top surface of the play structure; and illustrations that are included on the top surface of the material, wherein the illustrations include objects that are found in a known environment.
 17. The customizable play structure according to claim 16 further comprising attachable illustrations that are on a material that may be affixed to the customizable play structure after the play structure has been created.
 18. The customizable play structure according to claim 16 further comprising a connector accessory that enables the play structure to be removably connected to another play structure and an anti-slip accessory that is removably attached to the play structure and that reduces movement of the lay structure when the play structure is laid out on a surface.
 19. The customizable play structure according to claim 18 wherein a user may choose the illustrations that are included in the top surface of the material of the play structure, the connector accessory, the anti-slip accessory, or a combination thereof.
 20. The customizable play structure according to claim 16 wherein a user may choose the layout of illustrations of roads, paths or a combination of roads and paths that are created on a top surface of the material. 